There is change in the FIFA global ranking, updated this Thursday, September 18, and this has a significant impact on the draw for the 2026 World Cup to be held on December 5 in Washington DC. The classification of the month of November will indeed determine the four hats (of 12) of the draw for this World Cup 26 organized in Canada, the United States and Mexico (but fully disputed in the US from the quarterfinals).
Spain thus dethrones Argentina to spend the world number 1 and the French team, which has also won its first two qualifying matches at the next World Cup, took 2nd place, leaving the Abiceleste of Lionel Messi in 3rd place in front of England. In this Top 10, Portugal chips 5th place in Brazil, while Croatia and Italy go up in 9th and 10th position behind the Netherlands and Belgium. Germany falls in 12th place, behind Morocco, 11th.
This “top of the table” will evolve the next two months but we can guess the identity of the 12 standard heads of the 2026 World Cup. In addition to the three host countries, the nine best FIFA nations will form the first hat of the draw. All these teams will be invited in the first round. Argentina and Brazil are already qualified while waiting for major European selections. France is guaranteed to be part of it in the event of qualification at the expense of Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Iceland in its group.
France against Germany?
It is the results of Germany that are to be followed carefully. The Mannschaft launched its eliminatory campaign with an entry defeat into Slovakia (2-0) and will therefore have to make a faultless to finish at the top of its group and qualify directly for the World Cup. Even by chaining successes, the selection of Julian Nagelsmann may not be able to return to Croatia, Italy and Morocco, respectively 9th, 10th and 11th in the FIFA ranking. Germany would then become the scarecrow of hat 2!
To be part of the heads of the starters, the Germans must thus qualify in mid-November and hope for a… non-qualification of the Italians! The Azzurri, widely beaten by Norway of Erling Haaland (3-0), will try to overthrow everything on November 16 in San Siro. Otherwise, second place would send Italy to European dams in March 2026. However, the winners of these four UEFA dams will be placed in the last hat of the world draw in early December in the American capital.
